USA Men’s Eagles v Uruguay: Americas Rugby Championship 2017

The Americas Rugby Championship will feature matches between Argentina XV, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Uruguay and the United States. These matches will begin on Friday, February 3 and end on March 4.

This weekend’s matches will feature Brazil hosting Chile in the opening ARC 2017 match at Pacaembu Stadium in Sáo Paulo, Brazil. The match will kick off at 8:15pm local time (5:15pm ET) and be broadcast on ESPN Brazil. The match will also be steamed on ESPN3 (http://www.watchespn.com).

On Saturday, February 4, the USA Men’s Eagles will play Uruguay at 3pm CT (4pm ET) at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. The match is being broadcast on The Rugby Channel (http://www.therugbychannel.tv).

Eagles Head Coach John Mitchell has been assessing combinations of players that can be part of USA Rugby’s future as it prepares for the World Rugby Cup qualifier against Canada and beyond. It should surprise anyone that there will be players that earn their first test caps against Uruguay.

One of the debutants is Peter Malcolm, who played hooker at Wheeling Jesuit University and for the Ohio Aviators. Earlier this Fall, I interviewed Peter for the DJCoil Rugby You Tube Channel. Peter Malcolm has been an AIG Men’s Collegiate All-American since 2014. He also participated in several Men’s Eagles Sevens camps and was invited for the first time to this year’s ARC Eagles assembly. He will be sandwiched between the props Tony Purpura, who last wore the Eagles jersey in 2010 and Denver Stampede and Wellington Lions professional Chris Baumann.

Nick Civetta, who earned his first international cap with the Eagles against Romania last year and now plays for the Newcastle Falcons, will partner with Nate Brakeley in the second row. Nate plays for the New York Athletic Club. In the backrow, John Quill will wear the No. 6 jersey in his first test match since the Rugby World Cup 2015. Todd Clever and Al McFarland, another NYAC player and World Cup veteran, complete the back row.

John Mitchell in the release earlier today by USA Rugby said that “We’re getting closer to what our squad of 30 will be for June’s Rugby World Cup Qualifiers, but there are positions up for grabs. The biggest area for development – and it doesn’t happen overnight – is the development of a second and third scrum. We have nice group of young guys now but it’s going to take time.”

Blaine Scully will captain the Eagles and be found attacking from the wing. This will be his first match since the November tour and the only match he will play during the Americas Rugby Championship as he returns to the Cardiff Blues.

For the remaining matches Todd Clever is expected to captain the side and for this match is vice-captain. Todd is making his 70th appearance in an Eagles jersey in the backrow, which is a record. After the June tests, Todd played with OMBAC this Fall and will play for the Austin Huns after the ARC 2017 concludes.

The other starter to debut for the Eagles is Ben Cima at flyhalf. Ben, who plays for Rocky Gorge, can handle kicks at goal under pressure as evidenced by his final-play penalty kick from beyond midfield that gained the MJAAs an appearance in the World Rugby U20 Trophy series in Zimbabwe. Ben was part of the Eagles squad as a reserve to play the Maori All Blacks in Chicago this past November. He did not enter the match,nor was it a test match, so he will finally be a capped Eagle. He will link with scrumhalf Nate Augspurger from Old Blue, who has caps for both the Eagles 7s ad 15s.

With Ben Cima at flyhalf, AJ MacGinty, who plays flyhalf for the Sale Sharks, moves to inside center and will act as a playmaker with his ball handling skills and defensive prowess. After the match, he will resume his Rugby Premiership League schedule. MacGinty will team with hard running Bryce Campbell from Indiana University. Bryce earned his Eagles cap this past June.

When discussing MacGinty, John Mitchell added “If you have a 12 that can be direct with the ball, defend well, and distribute, you become a greater threat with an added variety to your attacking game. As AJ’s only here for a week, he’s been awesome in the sense of taking on the challenge of playing 12 to help the likes of Ben and Will Magie. His presence alone is good for those young guys.”

Zack Test will join Blaine Scully at wing, with Mikey Te’o, who played for the San Diego Breakers, at fullback. After playing for Team USA at the Olympics, Zack has been focusing on 15s for the early part of the sevens season.

All-Americans Will Magie and Alex Maughan are also in line for debuts from the reserves. Due to an injury to Siaosi Mahoni, Brigham Young University’s Matt Jensen, as joined the squad earlier than expected.

The USA has had a great deal of success against Uruguay in winning 13 of 15 meetings since 1989. Last year, however, with most of the Eagles professionals unavailable, the two South American matches against Uruguay and Brazil resulted in losses. This year the Eagles will have stronger sides representing the USA at home.

Expect a close match on Saturday, but don’t be surprised if the Eagles have a breakout performance.

John Mitchell said “It’ll be a tight contest because both sides enjoy moving the ball. They’re a team that flat-out plays at 110 miles per hour. I still think it’ll come down to who’s most disciplined and who is the best – defensively – on the evening.”

Head Coach Esteban Meneses selected a 24 player travel squad for the match against the USA Men’s Eagles at Toyota Field. Alejandro Nieto will captain the side at 8 man. He played for the Teros at the Rugby World Cup, however missed recent 2016 tests due to injury. Juan Manuel Gaminara, who has been the captain is unavailable for the match due to a knee injury.

The front row has experienced players in props, Mateo Sanguinetti and Juan Echeverría and will find relief by debutants Matías Benítez and Felipe Inciarte. Facundo Gattas will be the hooker. The lock position will be maned by Diego Ayala and Ignacio Dotti. Flanker Rodolfo Garese is starting at flanker and will earn his first test cap. Franco Lamanna will be the other flanker, while captain Alejandro Nieto rounds out the forwards at eight man.

Other uncapped players on their squad as reserves are hooker Diego Pombo and back Francisco Berchesi.

Germán Albanell, who played scrumhalf last year, will beat flyhalf, with Santiago Arata at scrumhalf. The centers will be Juan de Freitas and Juan Manuel Cat. The veteran Leandro Leivas will be at wing along with Andrés Rocco and Rodrigo Silva will be at fullback.